Alumni Award Recipients
Congratulations to our Alumni Award Recipients
Alumni Awards recognize professional achievement, outstanding leadership, and volunteer commitment to Monmouth University. All alumni are invited to honor recipients at award ceremonies, held every other year. The Alumni Association Board of Directors Recognition and Milestones Committee is proud to showcase the most recent Alumni Award recipients.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Raymond Klose ’77
Position: President, CEO Klose Associates Inc.
Degree Program: Business Administration
Raymond G. Klose is the president and chief executive officer of Klose Associates, Inc. a full-service design and build production firm located in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Established in 1983, the company provides marketing communication services as well as industrial, trade show, museum and showroom business to business exhibit designs for government, higher education and corporate clients around the world. He is also a managing partner in Meditirinia Properties, also located in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Meditirinia is best known for the commercial development of the “Factory” property in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Earlier in his career, Klose worked in new business development for Honeywell, ADT and Atlas. He was also a project manager for Visual Communications Consultants.
Klose has previously served as a board member of Photobition PLC in London. In 2003, Meditirinia Properties and the factory on Broadway were awarded the Preservation Award from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Klose Associates has won numerous industry awards, including Best Product Presentation from the National Association of Broadcasters and Best Design from the MOD Awards at Las Vegas in 2009.
Klose was elected to the Monmouth University Board of Trustees in July 2018. He is a member of the Monmouth University Business Council, where he leads their mentoring efforts. He serves as a member of the Leon Hess School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.
Klose earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Monmouth College.
He and his wife, Estelle, live in Oakhurst, New Jersey.
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
- 2022 – David Wilson ’80
- 2019 – Michael Salvatore, Ph.D., ’98
- 2017 – William Elliott ’95M
- 2016 – Christie Rampone ’99 ’05HN
- 2014 – Thomas P. Gallagher ’62
- 2013 – Brian Hanlon ’88
- 2012 – John P. O’Donnell ’67
- 2011 – Chester B. Kaletkowski ’71
- 2010 – Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., ’76
- 2009 – Michele Evering-Watley ’89
- 2008 – David J. Ennis ’74
- 2007 – Patricia Millines Dziko ’79
- 2006 – Richard W. Benjamin ’61
- 2005 – Noel L. Hillman ’81
- 2004 – Wendy Boglioli ’76
- 2003 – Herbert Butler ’59 ’76
- 2002 – Jane M. Freed ’81
- 2001 – Ronald Kornegay ’69 ’74
- 2000 – Dennis J. Turner ’69 ’73
- 1999 – Robert Santelli ’73
- 1998 – Dr. Frank P. Gudicello M.D. ’67
- 1997 – Marilyn E. Rocky ’65
- 1996 – Linda Deutsch ’65
- 1995 – David J. Burke ’71
- 1994 – Nanscy Neiman ’69
- 1993 – Eugene Iadanza ’70
- 1992 – Denis Gallagher ’76
- 1991 – William Rauch, III ’61
- 1990 – Raymond D. Cotton ’65
- 1989 – Della N. Garrabrant ’66, Harold L. Hodes ’65
- 1988 – John C. Manna ’62
- 1987 – Charles W. Ritscher ’59
- 1986 – Bartholomew P. Donohue, III ’60, Mitchell E. Shivers ’70
- 1985 – Constantine Kamnitsis ’66
- 1984 – Karl Gordinier ’62, Yvonne Thornton M.D., ’69
- 1983 – Royal E. Fliedner ’51, Wayman F. Smith, III ’63
Outstanding Alumni Service Award
Tasha Youngblood Brown ’97, ’03M
Position: Managing Director, Ernst & Young
Degree Program: Political Science
Tasha A. Youngblood Brown is a managing director in the Consulting practice of Ernst & Young. Recognized as a distinguished honoree on NJBIZ’s prestigious list of Top Women in Business for 2022, Tasha stands as an accomplished and purpose-driven leader boasting over 28 years of dynamic experience in the field of consulting. Her exceptional skill set encompasses a wide spectrum of competencies, including risk management, finance, and accounting, as well as IT.
This breadth of expertise has been honed across various corporate enterprises, public sector, higher education, and heavily regulated industries such as healthcare and life sciences.
A community leader, she also serves as a member of the Long Branch Board of Education and as board treasurer of the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC), working with minority-owned, women-owned businesses and corporations as an advocate for supplier diversity. Tasha was also recently appointed to the board of the YMCA of the Greater Monmouth County.
Youngblood Brown was elected to the Monmouth University Board of Trustees in July 2020 and elected Vice Chair in 2023.
Youngblood Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in accounting from Monmouth University. She and her husband David, reside in Long Branch, New Jersey with their family.
Past Award Recipients for the Outstanding Alumni Service Award (OASA), Alumni Service Award (ASA), and Volunteer of the Year Award (VOTY)
- 2022 – Karyn Cusanelli ’89
- 2019 – Deb Mannix ’83 (OASA)
- 2016 – Anthony Aquila ’73 ’77M (VOTY)
- 2015 – Henry Hansch III ’00 & Lauren Hansch (VOTY)
- 2014 – Jack Wagner ’97 (ASA)
- 2013 – Keri Branin ’95 ’98M (ASA)
Joseph Adelhardt ’81 (ASA)
George Marucci ’75 (VOTY) - 2012 – Peter R. Bruckmann ’70 (ASA)
Anne ’81M and Denis ’68 ’77M Hruza (VOTY) - 2011 – Charles J. Trabold ’65 (ASA)
Richard L. Ricciardi ’86M (VOTY)
Douglas Stives (VOTY) - 2010 – John S. Buzza ’71 (ASA)
Kathleen West Rapp ’70 ’80 (VOTY)
James B. Barlow, Sr. (VOTY) - 2009 – Patrice Murray ’82 ’89 (ASA)
Kate Stevens ’02 (VOTY)
Thomas P. Stevens ’71 (VOTY)
Teri and Ross ’82M Zimmerman (VOTY) - 2008 – Henni Kantor Kessler ’68 (ASA)
Christine Clericuzio ’04 (VOTY)
Nancy Kane Leidersdorff ’97 (VOTY)
Mark Lassen (VOTY) - 2007 – Gary H. Barnett ’63 (ASA)
Marilyn Egolf Rocky ’65 (VOTY)
James P. Hickey, Jr. (VOTY) - 2006 – Jeffrey F. Cross ’68 (ASA)
Judith Cerciello ’96 (VOTY)
Loretta Huddy (VOTY) - 2005 – Patricia Swannack ’02 (ASA)
Karl D. Gordinier ’62 (VOTY)
Victoria Fowler (VOTY) - 2004 – Charles T. Parton HN ’01 (ASA)
Peter R. Bruckmann ’70 (VOTY) - 2003 – Kenneth F. LePosa ’71 (ASA)
Jack Wagner ’97 (VOTY) - 2002 – Marti Sarason Egger ’81 (ASA)
Cheryl L. Szabo ’98 ’01 (VOTY) - 2001 – Gregory W. Bordiuk ’79 (ASA)
William B. McLaughlin ’97 (VOTY) - 2000 – Stephen J. Muscarella ’74 (ASA)
Maureen O’Connell Bay ’75 (VOTY) - 1999 – Bea Kachelriess ’91 MBA(ASA)
Kenneth F. LePosa ’71 (VOTY) - 1998 – James P. Mack ’63 (ASA)
Elliott B. Adler ’71 (VOTY)
Donna L. Marino ’94 (VOTY) - 1997 – Hon. Eugene A. Iadanza ’70 (ASA)
Thomas A. Porskievies ’82 ’86 (VOTY) - 1996 – Karl D. Gordinier ’62 (ASA)
Maxine Langbein ’76 (VOTY) - 1995 – James M. Copio ’78 (ASA)
Tracy Armstrong Khaleel ’88 (VOTY) - 1994 – Donald R. Burnaford ’72 (ASA)
Recent Alumni Award
Jenna Gaudio ’09
Position: Co-President, Vydia
Degree Program: Honors, Communication, Media
Jenna Gaudio is a media technology executive who specializes in building, aligning, and scaling successful teams that deliver industry-leading outcomes. Gaudio currently serves as the Co-President (Previously COO and VP Product Management) at Vydia, a NJ-based media technology company that was recently acquired by gamma., a global media and technology enterprise founded by former Apple Music Executive Larry Jackson. Prior to Vydia, Gaudio played an integral role in another successful exit of early-stage, NJ-based Ad Tech startup, Yashi, which was acquired by Nextstar Media Group in 2015.
In addition to leading two NJ Tech startups through high growth to strategic acquisitions, she is an active leader and supporter of many community organizations, including Jersey Shore Women in Tech, Women in Music, and Executive Women in Product.
Gaudio’s most recent accolades include being named a Top Business Influencer by the APP, NJBIZ Top 50 Women in Business, ROI-NJ Top Tech Influencer, and honored at the Music Business Conference in Nashville as a finalist for the #NextGen One-to-Watch Award.
Gaudio graduated from Monmouth University Honors School with a focus on Communication and Media Studies and remains an active mentor to the community.
Past Recent Alumni Award Recipients
- 2022 – Saoud Khalifah ’13 ’14M
- 2019 – Dante Barry ’10